Linda Ugatuzi activist Professor Fred Ogola has issued a stern warning to the Mombasa county government over pending health workers’ salaries.
Professor Ogola while condemning the county government threatened to file a petition in court to dissolve the Mombasa county government over the delay.
The devolution activist issued a four-day ultimatum to Mombasa governor Abulswamad Nassir to pay workers their wages.
“If you cannot run a county, then we can have Mombasa county given to the National government, it happened in Nairobi where NMS took charge and it can also happen here in Mombasa,” said Ogola.
The activist spoke at a joint press briefing in Mombasa after the County secretary and Head of Public Services sought for a moratorium from the health workers to allow amicable dialogue on Monday between the Mombasa governor and health workers officials.
He wants the county to furnish them with reports on why it has been unable to pay pending bills as well as pending arrears.
“I am also asking Mr. President William Ruto to command the auditor of budget to check all the budget items upon which money was disbursed to the County government of Mombasa and tell us if the salaries were not budgeted, and if they were budgeted where did the money go,” Ogola said.
KMPDU Coast region chairman Dr. Hassan Mkuche said over 1,500 medics are demanding two months’ salary areas and five months of statutory deductions which have not been remitted by the Mombasa county administration.
“We have to do this, because our plight has not been addressed despite raising it with the county administration,” said Muche.
Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratories Officers (KNUMLO) Mombasa chapter secretary Moses Maingi said medics are now living like beggars due to unbearable situations subjected to them by their employer.
“We are not on a witch hunting mission through our protests but to demand our salary arrears and remittance of statutory deductions among other grievances,” said Maingi.
“Our bare minimum is ending arrears to be paid,if that is done we will return to work, but for now we ask our members to stay away from work. We have suffered a lot of ridicule by people who see us as role models,this is because some of us have their houses locked by landlords,”said Maingi.
Kenya National Union of Nurses KNUN trustee leader Stanley Mwailogo said the county government has ignored their plight despite having a meeting with the county governor Abdulswamad Nassir.